U.S. patent number 9,904,440 [Application Number 14/078,759] was granted by the patent office on 2018-02-27 for mobile terminal, controlling method thereof, and recording medium thereof.
This patent grant is currently assigned to LG ELECTRONICS INC.. The grantee listed for this patent is LG ELECTRONICS INC.. Invention is credited to Yujune Jang, Meejeong Kim, Eunjeong Ryu.
United States Patent |
9,904,440 |
Jang , et al. |
February 27, 2018 |
Mobile terminal, controlling method thereof, and recording medium
thereof
Abstract
A touchscreen displays an edit region for writing a message to
transmit to at least one counterpart and an attach region for
displaying an attachment file attached to the message. While a
multimedia file is displayed on the attach region by being set as
the attachment file of the message, and if the multimedia file
displayed on the attach region is touched and dragged to the edit
region, the controller controls the multimedia file to be displayed
in a manner of being inserted in the edit region. While the
multimedia file is displayed in a manner of being inserted in the
edit region, and if the multimedia file displayed on the edit
region is touched and dragged to the attach region, the controller
controls the multimedia file to be set as the attachment file of
the message.
Inventors: |
Jang; Yujune (Seoul,
KR), Ryu; Eunjeong (Seoul, KR), Kim;
Meejeong (Seoul, KR) |
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
LG ELECTRONICS INC. |
Seoul |
N/A |
KR |
|
|
Assignee: |
LG ELECTRONICS INC. (Seoul,
KR)
|
Family
ID: |
49596058 |
Appl.
No.: |
14/078,759 |
Filed: |
November 13, 2013 |
Prior Publication Data
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Document
Identifier |
Publication Date |
|
US 20140337729 A1 |
Nov 13, 2014 |
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Foreign Application Priority Data
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Dec 7, 2012 [KR] |
|
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10-2012-0141764 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G06F
3/0488 (20130101); H04L 51/08 (20130101); G06Q
10/00 (20130101); G06F 3/0486 (20130101); G06Q
50/01 (20130101); G06F 3/0484 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
G06F
3/048 (20130101); G06F 3/0484 (20130101); G06Q
10/00 (20120101); G06Q 50/00 (20120101); G06F
3/0486 (20130101); G06F 3/0488 (20130101); H04L
12/58 (20060101) |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
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1372207 |
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Oct 2002 |
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CN |
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101527884 |
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Sep 2009 |
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CN |
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102318294 |
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Jan 2012 |
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CN |
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102629182 |
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Aug 2012 |
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CN |
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2 315 176 |
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Apr 2011 |
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EP |
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2 393 265 |
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Dec 2011 |
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EP |
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Other References
Chinese Office Action dated May 30, 2016 issued in Application No.
201310660176.5 (English translation attached). cited by applicant
.
European Summons to Attend Oral Proceedings dated May 31, 2017
issued in Application No. 13191868.2. cited by applicant.
|
Primary Examiner: Trapanese; William
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Ked & Associates, LLP
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A mobile terminal comprising: a touchscreen for sending a
message comprising a first region and a second region and the
touchscreen configured to display an edit region in the first
region for writing a message to transmit to at least one
counterpart and an attach region in the second region for
displaying a multimedia file set as an attachment file of the
message; and a controller configured to: display the multimedia
file in the attach region in a file name form; detect a touch and
drag input of the multimedia file from the attach region to the
edit region; insert the multimedia file to the edit region; and
lose a status of the attachment multimedia file and convert the
multimedia file into a portion of a written message in the edit
region in a preview form; wherein when the multimedia file is
inserted to the edit region having a different multimedia file
displayed thereon, the controller is configured to combine the
multimedia file and the different multimedia file together, wherein
the combining the multimedia file and the different multimedia file
includes merging the multimedia file and the different multimedia
file into a single file, or setting the multimedia file and the
different multimedia file to a single playlist.
2. The mobile terminal of claim 1, wherein the controller is
configured to display a control panel for controlling a playback of
the multimedia file to be displayed on the edit region
corresponding to the converting.
3. The mobile terminal of claim 1, wherein the inserted multimedia
file to the edit region comprises an image file, and the controller
is configured to control at least one of a resolution and an image
size of the image file to be adjusted automatically or
manually.
4. The mobile terminal of claim 3, wherein when the image size of
the image file is greater than a size of the touchscreen, the
controller is configured to control the image size of the image
file to become smaller than the size of the touchscreen.
5. The mobile terminal of claim 1, wherein the controller is
configured to display the multimedia file in the attach region with
an information of the multimedia file.
6. The mobile terminal of claim 5, wherein when a 1st touch input
is applied to the information of the multimedia file, the
controller is configured to activate the multimedia file and
wherein when a 2nd touch input is applied to the information of the
multimedia file, the controller is configured to control a
thumbnail of the multimedia file to be displayed.
7. The mobile terminal of claim 5, wherein the information of the
multimedia file comprises at least one selected from the group
consisting of a file name of the multimedia file, an icon
corresponding to a type of the multimedia file and a thumbnail of
the multimedia file.
8. The mobile terminal of claim 1, wherein the multimedia file
comprises an image file and wherein the 2nd file type comprises a
PNG (portable network graphics) format.
9. The mobile terminal of claim 1, wherein the 2nd file type
comprises a file format having a compression ratio higher than that
of the 1st file type.
10. The mobile terminal of claim 1, wherein the controller is
configured to: detect a touch and drag input of the inserted
multimedia file from the edit region to the attach region; and
delete the converted multimedia file in the edit region in a
preview form.
11. The mobile terminal of claim 1, wherein the multimedia file
comprises at least one selected from the group consisting of an
image file, a video file, a music file and a document file.
12. The mobile terminal of claim 1, wherein the attachment region
comprises a display region of file attach button for inserting the
attachment file.
13. The mobile terminal of claim 1, wherein the message comprises
at least one selected from the group consisting of an email, a text
message and an instant message.
14. A method of controlling a mobile terminal, comprising the steps
of: displaying an edit region in a first region for writing a
message to transmit to at least one counterpart and an attach
region in a second region for displaying a multimedia file set as
an attachment file of the message, wherein the first region and the
second region comprises a touchscreen for sending a message;
displaying the multimedia file in the attach region in a file name
form; detecting a touch and drag input of the multimedia file from
the attach region to the edit region; inserting the multimedia file
to the edit region: and losing a status of the attachment file and
converting the multimedia file into a portion of a writing message
in the edit region in a preview form, wherein when the multimedia
file is inserted to the edit region having a different multimedia
file displayed thereon, the controller is configured to combine the
multimedia file and the different multimedia file together, wherein
the combining the multimedia file and the different multimedia file
includes merging the multimedia file and the different multimedia
file into a single file, or setting the multimedia file and the
different multimedia file to a single playlist.
15. A non-transitory computer-readable recording medium comprising
a mobile terminal controlling method having 1.sup.st to 5.sup.th
commands recorded therein, wherein the 1.sup.st command is
configured to display an edit region in a first region for writing
a message to transmit to at least one counterpart and an attach
region in a second region for displaying a multimedia file set as
an attachment file of the message, wherein the first region and the
second region comprises a touchscreen for sending a message, the
2.sup.nd command is configured to display the multimedia file in
the attach region in a file name form; the 3.sup.rd command is
configured to detect a touch and drag input of the multimedia file
from the attach region to the edit region; the 4.sup.th command is
configured to insert the multimedia file to the edit region; and
the 5.sup.th command is configured to lose a status of the
attachment file and convert the multimedia file into a portion of a
writing message in the edit region in a preview form, wherein when
the multimedia file is inserted to the edit region having a
different multimedia file displayed thereon, the controller is
configured to combine the multimedia file and the different
multimedia file together, wherein the combining the multimedia file
and the different multimedia file includes merging the multimedia
file and the different multimedia file into a single file, or
setting the multimedia file and the different multimedia file to a
single playlist.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
Pursuant to 35 U.S.C. .sctn. 119(a), this application claims the
benefit of earlier filing date and right of priority to Korean
Application No. 10-2012-0141764, filed on Dec. 7, 2012, the
contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference herein in
their entirety.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a mobile terminal, and more
particularly, to a mobile terminal and controlling method thereof.
Although the present invention is suitable for a wide scope of
applications, it is particularly suitable for switching a
multimedia file inserted in a text of a message to an attachment
file or inserting a multimedia file set as an attachment file in a
text.
Discussion of the Related Art
A mobile terminal is a device which may be configured to perform
various functions. Examples of such functions include data and
voice communications, capturing images and video via a camera,
recording audio, playing music files and outputting music via a
speaker system, and displaying images and video on a display.
Generally, terminals can be classified into mobile terminals and
stationary terminals according to a presence or non-presence of
mobility. And, the mobile terminals can be further classified into
handheld terminals and vehicle mount terminals according to
availability for hand-carry.
There are ongoing efforts to support and increase the functionality
of mobile terminals. Such efforts include software and hardware
improvements, as well as changes and improvements in the structural
components which form the mobile terminal.
A mobile terminal has been traditionally used as a means for
performing a communication with a different terminal. Recently,
owing to the functional enlargements of a mobile terminal, the
mobile terminal can communicate with other terminals through
various paths including an instant message, an email and the like
as well as a voice call and a text message.
In case of attempting to communicate with a different mobile
terminal using such a message as a text message, an instant
message, an email and the like, a user of a mobile terminal is able
to send the message by inputting a text of a content to send to a
counterpart or setting a file to send to a counterpart as an
attachment file. Having received the message from the mobile
terminal, the counterpart checks the inputted text and/or the
attachment file attached to the message.
Yet, in case that the file to be sent to the counterpart is set as
the attachment file, the counterpart has difficulty in checking a
content of the attachment file because the attachment file should
be saved in the mobile terminal of the counterpart and then
executed manually.
Therefore, the demand for facilitating the attachment file content
to be checked by the counterpart without setting the file to be
sent to the counterpart as the attachment file is rising.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, embodiments of the present invention are directed to a
mobile terminal and controlling method thereof that substantially
obviate one or more problems due to limitations and disadvantages
of the related art.
An object of the present invention is to provide a mobile terminal
and controlling method thereof, by which user's convenience is
enhanced.
In particular, one object of the present invention is to provide a
mobile terminal and controlling method thereof, by which a
multimedia file set as an attachment file can be inserted in a text
region of a message in a simple manner. Another object of the
present invention is to provide a mobile terminal and controlling
method thereof, by which a multimedia file inserted in a text
region of a message can be set as an attachment file in a simple
manner.
Additional advantages, objects, and features of the invention will
be set forth in the disclosure herein as well as the accompanying
drawings. Such aspects may also be appreciated by those skilled in
the art based on the disclosure herein.
To achieve these objects and other advantages and in accordance
with the purpose of the invention, as embodied and broadly
described herein, a mobile terminal according to the present
invention may include a touchscreen configured to display an edit
region for writing a message to transmit to at least one
counterpart and an attach region for displaying an attachment file
attached to the message and a controller configured to, while a
multimedia file is displayed on the attach region by being set as
the attachment file of the message, if the multimedia file
displayed on the attach region is touched and dragged to the edit
region, control the multimedia file to be displayed in a manner of
being inserted in the edit region, and while the multimedia file is
displayed in a manner of being inserted in the edit region, if the
multimedia file displayed on the edit region is touched and dragged
to the attach region, controlling the multimedia file to be set as
the attachment file of the message.
In another aspect of the present invention, a method of controlling
a mobile terminal according to the present invention may include
the steps of displaying an edit region for writing a message to
transmit to at least one counterpart and an attach region for
displaying an attachment file attached to the message, while a
multimedia file is displayed on the attach region by being set as
the attachment file of the message, if the multimedia file
displayed on the attach region is touched and dragged to the edit
region, displaying the multimedia file in a manner that the
multimedia file is inserted in the edit region, and while the
multimedia file is displayed in a manner of being inserted in the
edit region, if the multimedia file displayed on the edit region is
touched and dragged to the attach region, setting the multimedia
file as the attachment file of the message.
In a further aspect of the present invention, a computer-readable
recording medium according to the present invention may include a
mobile terminal controlling method having 1.sup.st to 3.sup.rd
commands recorded therein, wherein the 1.sup.st command is
configured to display an edit region for writing a message to
transmit to at least one counterpart and an attach region for
displaying an attachment file attached to the message, wherein
while a multimedia file is displayed on the attach region by being
set as the attachment file of the message, if the multimedia file
displayed on the attach region is touched and dragged to the edit
region, the 2.sup.nd command is configured to display the
multimedia file in a manner that the multimedia file is inserted in
the edit region, and wherein while the multimedia file is displayed
in a manner of being inserted in the edit region, if the multimedia
file displayed on the edit region is touched and dragged to the
attach region, the 3.sup.rd command is configured to set the
multimedia file as the attachment file of the message.
Effects obtainable from the present invention may be non-limited by
the above mentioned effect. And, other unmentioned effects can be
clearly understood from the following description by those having
ordinary skill in the technical field to which the present
invention pertains.
It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description
and the following detailed description of the present invention are
exemplary and explanatory and are intended to provide further
explanation of the invention as claimed.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a further
understanding of the invention and are incorporated in and
constitute a part of this application, illustrate embodiment(s) of
the invention and together with the description serve to explain
the principle of the invention. The above and other aspects,
features, and advantages of the present invention will become more
apparent upon consideration of the following description of
preferred embodiments, taken in conjunction with the accompanying
drawing figures. In the drawings:
FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a mobile terminal according to one
embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 2 is a front perspective diagram of a mobile terminal
according to one embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 3 is a rear perspective diagram of a mobile terminal according
to one embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 4 is a flowchart for a method of controlling a mobile terminal
according to the present invention;
FIG. 5 is a diagram for one example to describe a message writing
screen;
FIGS. 6a to 6f are a diagram for one example to describe an output
of a touchscreen if a multimedia file is inserted in an edit
region;
FIGS. 7a to 7f are a diagram for one example to describe a process
for displaying an information of an attachment file on an
attachment region;
FIGS. 8a to 8d are a diagram for one example to describe a process
for setting a multimedia file inserted in an edit region as an
attachment file;
FIGS. 9a to 9c are a diagram for another example to describe a
process for setting a multimedia file inserted in an edit region as
an attachment file;
FIGS. 10a to 10c are a diagram for one example to describe a
process for changing a 1.sup.st file type of a multimedia file into
a 2.sup.nd file type;
FIGS. 11a to 11d are a diagram for one example to describe a
process for inserting a multimedia file set as an attachment file
in an edit region;
FIGS. 12a and 12b are a diagram for one example to describe a
process for displaying a resolution or image-size adjusted image
file on an edit region;
FIGS. 13a to 13f and FIGS. 14a to 14e are diagrams for examples to
describe a process for combining a 1.sup.st multimedia file and a
2.sup.nd multimedia file together;
FIGS. 15a to 15d are a diagram for one example to describe a
process for inserting a multimedia file set as an attachment file
in an edit region using a copy or cutting;
FIGS. 16a to 16d are a diagram for one example to describe a
process for setting a multimedia file inserted in an edit region
using a copy or cutting as an attachment file;
FIG. 17 is a flowchart for an operation of a mobile terminal
according to the present invention;
FIG. 18 is a diagram for one example to describe a process for
displaying a message received from a counterpart on a touchscreen;
and
FIGS. 19a to 19d are a diagram for one example to describe a
process for displaying a queue object to activate an attachment
file on a touchscreen.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
In the following detailed description, reference is made to the
accompanying drawing figures which form a part hereof, and which
show by way of illustration specific embodiments of the invention.
It is to be understood by those of ordinary skill in this
technological field that other embodiments may be utilized, and
structural, electrical, as well as procedural changes may be made
without departing from the scope of the present invention. Wherever
possible, the same reference numbers will be used throughout the
drawings to refer to the same or similar parts.
As used herein, the suffixes `module`, `unit` and `part` are used
for elements in order to facilitate the disclosure only. Therefore,
significant meanings or roles are not given to the suffixes
themselves and it is understood that the `module`, `unit` and
`part` can be used together or interchangeably.
The present invention can be applicable to a various types of
mobile terminals. Examples of such terminals include mobile phones,
user equipments, smart phones, digital broadcast receivers,
personal digital assistants, laptop computers, portable multimedia
players (PMP), navigators and the like.
Yet, it is apparent to those skilled in the art that a
configuration according to an embodiment disclosed in this
specification is applicable to such a fixed terminal as a digital
TV, a desktop computer and the like as well as a mobile
terminal.
FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a mobile terminal 100 in accordance
with an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 shows the
mobile terminal 100 according to one embodiment of the present
invention includes a wireless communication unit 110, an A/V
(audio/video) input unit 120, a user input unit 130, a sensing unit
140, an output unit 150, a memory 160, an interface unit 170, a
controller 180, a power supply unit 190 and the like. FIG. 1 shows
the mobile terminal 100 having various components, but it is
understood that implementing all of the illustrated components is
not a requirement. Greater or fewer components may alternatively be
implemented.
In the following description, the above elements of the mobile
terminal 100 are explained in sequence.
First of all, the wireless communication unit 110 typically
includes one or more components which permits wireless
communication between the mobile terminal 100 and a wireless
communication system or network within which the mobile terminal
100 is located. For instance, the wireless communication unit 110
can include a broadcast receiving module 111, a mobile
communication module 112, a wireless internet module 113, a
short-range communication module 114, a position-location module
115 and the like.
The broadcast receiving module 111 receives a broadcast signal
and/or broadcast associated information from an external broadcast
managing server via a broadcast channel. The broadcast channel may
include a satellite channel and a terrestrial channel. At least two
broadcast receiving modules 111 can be provided to the mobile
terminal 100 in pursuit of simultaneous receptions of at least two
broadcast channels or broadcast channel switching facilitation.
The broadcast managing server generally refers to a server which
generates and transmits a broadcast signal and/or broadcast
associated information or a server which is provided with a
previously generated broadcast signal and/or broadcast associated
information and then transmits the provided signal or information
to a terminal. The broadcast signal may be implemented as a TV
broadcast signal, a radio broadcast signal, and a data broadcast
signal, among others. If desired, the broadcast signal may further
include a broadcast signal combined with a TV or radio broadcast
signal.
The broadcast associated information includes information
associated with a broadcast channel, a broadcast program, a
broadcast service provider, etc. And, the broadcast associated
information can be provided via a mobile communication network. In
this case, the broadcast associated information can be received by
the mobile communication module 112.
The broadcast associated information can be implemented in various
forms. For instance, broadcast associated information may include
an electronic program guide (EPG) of digital multimedia
broadcasting (DMB) and electronic service guide (ESG) of digital
video broadcast-handheld (DVB-H).
The broadcast receiving module 111 may be configured to receive
broadcast signals transmitted from various types of broadcast
systems. By nonlimiting example, such broadcasting systems include
digital multimedia broadcasting-terrestrial (DMB-T), digital
multimedia broadcasting-satellite (DMB-S), digital video
broadcast-handheld (DVB-H), Convergence of Broadcasting and Mobile
Service (DVB-CBMS), Open Mobile Alliance-BroadCAST (OMA-BCAST),
China Multimedia Mobile Broadcasting (CMMB), Mobile Broadcasting
Business Management System (MBBMS), the data broadcasting system
known as media forward link only (MediaFLO.RTM.) and integrated
services digital broadcast-terrestrial (ISDB-T). Optionally, the
broadcast receiving module 111 can be configured suitable for other
broadcasting systems as well as the above-explained digital
broadcasting systems.
The broadcast signal and/or broadcast associated information
received by the broadcast receiving module 111 may be stored in a
suitable device, such as a memory 160.
The mobile communication module 112 transmits/receives wireless
signals to/from one or more network entities (e.g., base station,
external terminal, server, etc.) via a mobile network such as GSM
(Global System for Mobile communications), CDMA (Code Division
Multiple Access), WCDMA (Wideband CDMA) and so on. Such wireless
signals may represent audio, video, and data according to
text/multimedia message transceivings, among others.
The wireless internet module 113 supports Internet access for the
mobile terminal 100. This module may be internally or externally
coupled to the mobile terminal 100. In this case, the wireless
Internet technology can include WLAN (Wireless LAN) (Wi-Fi), Wibro
(Wireless broadband), Wimax (World Interoperability for Microwave
Access), HSDPA (High Speed Downlink Packet Access), GSM, CDMA,
WCDMA, LTE (Long Term Evolution) etc.
Wireless internet access by Wibro, HSPDA, GSM, CDMA, WCDMA, LTE or
the like is achieved via a mobile communication network. In this
aspect, the wireless internet module 113 configured to perform the
wireless internet access via the mobile communication network can
be understood as a sort of the mobile communication module 112.
The short-range communication module 114 facilitates relatively
short-range communications. Suitable technologies for implementing
this module include radio frequency identification (RFID), infrared
data association (IrDA), ultra-wideband (UWB), as well at the
networking technologies commonly referred to as Bluetooth and
ZigBee, to name a few.
The position-location module 115 identifies or otherwise obtains
the location of the mobile terminal 100. If desired, this module
may be implemented with a global positioning system (GPS) module.
According to the current technology, the GPS module 115 is able to
precisely calculate current 3-dimensional position information
based on at least one of longitude, latitude and altitude and
direction (or orientation) by calculating distance information and
precise time information from at least three satellites and then
applying triangulation to the calculated information. Currently,
location and time informations are calculated using three
satellites, and errors of the calculated location position and time
informations are then amended using another satellite. Besides, the
GPS module 115 is able to calculate speed information by
continuously calculating a real-time current location.
Referring to FIG. 1, the audio/video (A/V) input unit 120 is
configured to provide audio or video signal input to the mobile
terminal 100. As shown, the A/V input unit 120 includes a camera
121 and a microphone 122. The camera 121 receives and processes
image frames of still pictures or video, which are obtained by an
image sensor in a video call mode or a photographing mode. And, the
processed image frames can be displayed on the display 151.
The image frames processed by the camera 121 can be stored in the
memory 160 or can be externally transmitted via the wireless
communication unit 110. Optionally, at least two cameras 121 can be
provided to the mobile terminal 100 according to environment of
usage.
The microphone 122 receives an external audio signal while the
portable device is in a particular mode, such as phone call mode,
recording mode and voice recognition. This audio signal is
processed and converted into electric audio data. The processed
audio data is transformed into a format transmittable to a mobile
communication base station via the mobile communication module 112
in case of a call mode. The microphone 122 typically includes
assorted noise removing algorithms to remove noise generated in the
course of receiving the external audio signal.
The user input unit 130 generates input data responsive to user
manipulation of an associated input device or devices. Examples of
such devices include a button 136 provided to front/rear/lateral
side of the mobile terminal 100 and a touch sensor (constant
pressure/electrostatic) 137 and may further include a key pad, a
dome switch, a jog wheel, a jog switch and the like [not shown in
the drawing].
The sensing unit 140 provides sensing signals for controlling
operations of the mobile terminal 100 using status measurements of
various aspects of the mobile terminal. For instance, the sensing
unit 140 may detect an open/close status of the mobile terminal
100, relative positioning of components (e.g., a display and
keypad) of the mobile terminal 100, a change of position of the
mobile terminal 100 or a component of the mobile terminal 100, a
presence or absence of user contact with the mobile terminal 100,
orientation or acceleration/deceleration of the mobile terminal
100. By nonlimiting example, such sensing unit 140 include, gyro
sensor, accelerate sensor, geomagnetic sensor.
As an example, consider the mobile terminal 100 being configured as
a slide-type mobile terminal. In this configuration, the sensing
unit 140 may sense whether a sliding portion of the mobile terminal
is open or closed. Other examples include the sensing unit 140
sensing the presence or absence of power provided by the power
supply 190, the presence or absence of a coupling or other
connection between the interface unit 170 and an external device.
And, the sensing unit 140 can include a proximity sensor 141.
The output unit 150 generates outputs relevant to the senses of
sight, hearing, touch and the like. And, the output unit 150
includes the display 151, an audio output module 152, an alarm unit
153, and a haptic module 154 and the like.
The display 151 is typically implemented to visually display
(output) information associated with the mobile terminal 100. For
instance, if the mobile terminal is operating in a phone call mode,
the display will generally provide a user interface (UI) or
graphical user interface (GUI) which includes information
associated with placing, conducting, and terminating a phone call.
As another example, if the mobile terminal 100 is in a video call
mode or a photographing mode, the display 151 may additionally or
alternatively display images which are associated with these modes,
the UI or the GUI.
The display module 151 may be implemented using known display
technologies including, for example, a liquid crystal display
(LCD), a thin film transistor-liquid crystal display (TFT-LCD), an
organic light-emitting diode display (OLED), a flexible display and
a three-dimensional display. The mobile terminal 100 may include
one or more of such displays.
Some of the above displays can be implemented in a transparent or
optical transmittive type, which can be named a transparent
display. As a representative example for the transparent display,
there is TOLED (transparent OLED) or the like. A rear configuration
of the display 151 can be implemented in the optical transmittive
type as well. In this configuration, a user is able to see an
object in rear of a terminal body via the area occupied by the
display 151 of the terminal body.
At least two displays 151 can be provided to the mobile terminal
100 in accordance with the implemented configuration of the mobile
terminal 100. For instance, a plurality of displays can be arranged
on a single face of the mobile terminal 100 in a manner of being
spaced apart from each other or being built in one body.
Alternatively, a plurality of displays can be arranged on different
faces of the mobile terminal 100.
In case that the display 151 and the touch sensor 137 configures a
mutual layer structure (hereinafter called `touch screen`), it is
able to use the display 151 as an input device as well as an output
device. In this case, the touch sensor can be configured as a touch
film, a touch sheet, a touchpad or the like.
The touch sensor 137 can be configured to convert a pressure
applied to a specific portion of the display 151 or a variation of
a capacitance generated from a specific portion of the display 151
to an electric input signal. Moreover, it is able to configure the
touch sensor 137 to detect a pressure of a touch as well as a
touched position or size.
If a touch input is made to the touch sensor 137, signal(s)
corresponding to the touch is transferred to a touch controller.
The touch controller processes the signal(s) and then transfers the
processed signal(s) to the controller 180. Therefore, the
controller 180 is able to know whether a prescribed portion of the
display 151 is touched.
Referring to FIG. 2, a proximity sensor (141) can be provided to an
internal area of the mobile terminal 100 enclosed by the
touchscreen or around the touchscreen. The proximity sensor is the
sensor that detects a presence or non-presence of an object
approaching a prescribed detecting surface or an object existing
around the proximity sensor using an electromagnetic field strength
or infrared ray without mechanical contact. Hence, the proximity
sensor has durability longer than that of a contact type sensor and
also has utility wider than that of the contact type sensor.
The proximity sensor can include one of a transmittive
photoelectric sensor, a direct reflective photoelectric sensor, a
mirror reflective photoelectric sensor, a radio frequency
oscillation proximity sensor, an electrostatic capacity proximity
sensor, a magnetic proximity sensor, an infrared proximity sensor
and the like. In case that the touchscreen includes the
electrostatic capacity proximity sensor, it is configured to detect
the proximity of a pointer using a variation of electric field
according to the proximity of the pointer. In this case, the
touchscreen (touch sensor) can be classified as the proximity
sensor.
For clarity and convenience of the following description, as a
pointer becomes proximate to a touchscreen without coming into
contact with the touchscreen, if the pointer is perceived as
situated over the touchscreen, such an action shall be named
`proximity touch`. If a pointer actually comes into contact with a
touchscreen, such an action shall be named `contact touch`. A
proximity-touched position over the touchscreen with the pointer
may mean a position at which the pointer vertically opposes the
touchscreen when the touchscreen is proximity-touched with the
pointer.
The proximity sensor detects a proximity touch and a proximity
touch pattern (e.g., a proximity touch distance, a proximity touch
duration, a proximity touch position, a proximity touch shift
state, etc.). And, information corresponding to the detected
proximity touch action and the detected proximity touch pattern can
be outputted to the touchscreen.
The audio output module 152 functions in various modes including a
call-receiving mode, a call-placing mode, a recording mode, a voice
recognition mode, a broadcast reception mode and the like to output
audio data which is received from the wireless communication unit
110 or is stored in the memory 160. During operation, the audio
output module 152 outputs audio relating to a particular function
(e.g., call received, message received, etc.). The audio output
module 152 is often implemented using one or more speakers,
buzzers, other audio producing devices, and combinations
thereof.
The alarm unit 153 is output a signal for announcing the occurrence
of a particular event associated with the mobile terminal 100.
Typical events include a call received event, a message received
event and a touch input received event. The alarm unit 153 is able
to output a signal for announcing the event occurrence by way of
vibration as well as video or audio signal. The video or audio
signal can be outputted via the display 151 or the audio output
unit 152. Hence, the display 151 or the audio output module 152 can
be regarded as a part of the alarm unit 153.
The haptic module 154 generates various tactile effects that can be
sensed by a user. Vibration is a representative one of the tactile
effects generated by the haptic module 154. Strength and pattern of
the vibration generated by the haptic module 154 are controllable.
For instance, different vibrations can be outputted in a manner of
being synthesized together or can be outputted in sequence.
The haptic module 154 is able to generate various tactile effects
as well as the vibration. For instance, the haptic module 154
generates the effect attributed to the arrangement of pins
vertically moving against a contact skin surface, the effect
attributed to the injection/suction power of air though an
injection/suction hole, the effect attributed to the skim over a
skin surface, the effect attributed to the contact with electrode,
the effect attributed to the electrostatic force, the effect
attributed to the representation of hold/cold sense using an
endothermic or exothermic device and the like.
The haptic module 154 can be implemented to enable a user to sense
the tactile effect through a muscle sense of finger, arm or the
like as well as to transfer the tactile effect through a direct
contact. Optionally, at least two haptic modules 154 can be
provided to the mobile terminal 100 in accordance with the
corresponding configuration type of the mobile terminal 100.
The memory unit 160 is generally used to store various types of
data to support the processing, control, and storage requirements
of the mobile terminal 100. Examples of such data include program
instructions for applications operating on the mobile terminal 100,
contact data, phonebook data, messages, audio, still pictures (or
photo), moving pictures, etc. And, a recent use history or a
cumulative use frequency of each data (e.g., use frequency for each
phonebook, each message or each multimedia) can be stored in the
memory unit 160. Moreover, data for various patterns of vibration
and/or sound outputted in case of a touch input to the touchscreen
can be stored in the memory unit 160.
The memory 160 may be implemented using any type or combination of
suitable volatile and non-volatile memory or storage devices
including hard disk, random access memory (RAM), static random
access memory (SRAM), electrically erasable programmable read-only
memory (EEPROM), erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM),
programmable read-only memory (PROM), read-only memory (ROM),
magnetic memory, flash memory, magnetic or optical disk, multimedia
card micro type memory, card-type memory (e.g., SD memory, XD
memory, etc.), or other similar memory or data storage device. And,
the mobile terminal 100 is able to operate in association with a
web storage for performing a storage function of the memory 160 on
Internet.
The interface unit 170 is often implemented to couple the mobile
terminal 100 with external devices. The interface unit 170 receives
data from the external devices or is supplied with the power and
then transfers the data or power to the respective elements of the
mobile terminal 100 or enables data within the mobile terminal 100
to be transferred to the external devices. The interface unit 170
may be configured using a wired/wireless headset port, an external
charger port, a wired/wireless data port, a memory card port, a
port for coupling to a device having an identity module, audio
input/output ports, video input/output ports, an earphone port
and/or the like.
The identity module is the chip for storing various kinds of
information for authenticating a use authority of the mobile
terminal 100 and can include User Identify Module (UIM), Subscriber
Identify Module (SIM), Universal Subscriber Identity Module (USIM)
and/or the like. A device having the identity module (hereinafter
called `identity device`) can be manufactured as a smart card.
Therefore, the identity device is connectible to the mobile
terminal 100 via the corresponding port.
When the mobile terminal 110 is connected to an external cradle,
the interface unit 170 becomes a passage for supplying the mobile
terminal 100 with a power from the cradle or a passage for
delivering various command signals inputted from the cradle by a
user to the mobile terminal 100. Each of the various command
signals inputted from the cradle or the power can operate as a
signal enabling the mobile terminal 100 to recognize that it is
correctly loaded in the cradle.
The controller 180 typically controls the overall operations of the
mobile terminal 100. For example, the controller 180 performs the
control and processing associated with voice calls, data
communications, video calls, etc. The controller 180 may include a
multimedia module 181 that provides multimedia playback. The
multimedia module 181 may be configured as part of the controller
180, or implemented as a separate component.
Moreover, the controller 180 is able to perform a pattern (or
image) recognizing process for recognizing a writing input and a
picture drawing input carried out on the touchscreen as characters
or images, respectively.
The power supply unit 190 provides power required by the various
components for the mobile terminal 100. The power may be internal
power, external power, or combinations thereof.
A battery may include a built-in rechargeable battery and may be
detachably attached to the terminal body for a charging and the
like. A connecting port may be configured as one example of the
interface 170 via which an external charger for supplying a power
of a battery charging is electrically connected.
Various embodiments described herein may be implemented in a
computer-readable medium using, for example, computer software,
hardware, or some combination thereof.
For a hardware implementation, the embodiments described herein may
be implemented within one or more application specific integrated
circuits (ASICs), digital signal processors (DSPs), digital signal
processing devices (DSPDs), programmable logic devices (PLDs),
field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), processors, controllers,
micro-controllers, microprocessors, other electronic units designed
to perform the functions described herein, or a selective
combination thereof. Such embodiments may also be implemented by
the controller 180.
For a software implementation, the embodiments described herein may
be implemented with separate software modules, such as procedures
and functions, each of which perform one or more of the functions
and operations described herein. The software codes can be
implemented with a software application written in any suitable
programming language and may be stored in memory such as the memory
160, and executed by a controller or processor, such as the
controller 180.
FIG. 2 is a front perspective diagram of a mobile terminal
according to one embodiment of the present invention.
The mobile terminal 100 shown in the drawing has a bar type
terminal body. Yet, the mobile terminal 100 may be implemented in a
variety of different configurations. Examples of such
configurations include folder-type, slide-type, rotational-type,
swing-type and combinations thereof. For clarity, further
disclosure will primarily relate to a bar-type mobile terminal 100.
However such teachings apply equally to other types of mobile
terminals.
Referring to FIG. 2A, the mobile terminal 100 includes a case (101,
102, 103) configuring an exterior thereof. In the present
embodiment, the case can be divided into a front case 101 and a
rear case 102. Various electric/electronic parts are loaded in a
space provided between the front and rear cases 101 and 102.
Occasionally, electronic components can be mounted on a surface of
the rear case 102. The electronic part mounted on the surface of
the rear case 102 may include such a detachable part as a battery,
a USIM card, a memory card and the like. In doing so, the rear case
102 may further include a backside cover 103 configured to cover
the surface of the rear case 102. In particular, the backside cover
103 has a detachable configuration for user's convenience. If the
backside cover 103 is detached from the rear case 102, the surface
of the rear case 102 is exposed.
Referring to FIG. 2, if the backside cover 103 is attached to the
rear case 102, a lateral side of the rear case 102 may be exposed
in part. If a size of the backside cover 103 is decreased, a rear
side of the rear case 102 may be exposed in part. If the backside
cover 103 covers the whole rear side of the rear case 102, it may
include an opening 103' configured to expose a camera 121' or an
audio output unit 152' externally.
The cases 101, 102 and 103 are formed by injection molding of
synthetic resin or can be formed of metal substance such as
stainless steel (STS), titanium (Ti) or the like for example.
A display 151, an audio output unit 152, a camera 121, user input
units 130/131 and 132, a microphone 122, an interface 180 and the
like can be provided to the case 101 or 102.
The display 151 occupies most of a main face of the front case 101.
The audio output unit 152 and the camera 121 are provided to an
area adjacent to one of both end portions of the display 151, while
the user input unit 131 and the microphone 122 are provided to
another area adjacent to the other end portion of the display 151.
The user input unit 132 and the interface 170 can be provided to
lateral sides of the front and rear cases 101 and 102.
The input unit 130 is manipulated to receive a command for
controlling an operation of the terminal 100. And, the input unit
130 is able to include a plurality of manipulating units 131 and
132. The manipulating units 131 and 132 can be named a manipulating
portion and may adopt any mechanism of a tactile manner that
enables a user to perform a manipulation action by experiencing a
tactile feeling.
Content inputted by the first or second manipulating unit 131 or
132 can be diversely set. For instance, such a command as start,
end, scroll and the like is inputted to the first manipulating unit
131. And, a command for a volume adjustment of sound outputted from
the audio output unit 152 and the like can be inputted to the
second manipulating unit 132, a command for a switching to a touch
recognizing mode of the display 151 and the like can be inputted to
the second manipulating unit 133.
FIG. 3 is a perspective diagram of a backside of the terminal shown
in FIG. 2.
Referring to FIG. 3, a camera 121' can be additionally provided to
a backside of the terminal body, and more particularly, to the rear
case 102. The camera 121 has a photographing direction that is
substantially opposite to that of the former camera 121 shown in
FIG. 2 and may have pixels differing from those of the firmer
camera 121.
Preferably, for instance, the former camera 121 has low pixels
enough to capture and transmit a picture of user's face for a video
call, while the latter camera 121' has high pixels for capturing a
general subject for photography without transmitting the captured
subject. And, each of the cameras 121 and 121' can be installed at
the terminal body to be rotated or popped up.
A flash 123 and a mirror 124 are additionally provided adjacent to
the camera 121'. The flash 123 projects light toward a subject in
case of photographing the subject using the camera 121'. In case
that a user attempts to take a picture of the user
(self-photography) using the camera 121', the mirror 124 enables
the user to view user's face reflected by the mirror 124.
An additional audio output unit 152' can be provided to the
backside of the terminal body. The additional audio output unit
152' is able to implement a stereo function together with the
former audio output unit 152 shown in FIG. 2A and may be used for
implementation of a speakerphone mode in talking over the
terminal.
A broadcast signal receiving antenna 116 can be additionally
provided to the lateral side of the terminal body as well as an
antenna for communication or the like. The antenna 116 constructing
a portion of the broadcast receiving module 111 shown in FIG. 1 can
be retractably provided to the terminal body.
For clarity and convenience of the following description, assume
that a mobile terminal mentioned in the following description
includes at least one of the components shown in FIG. 1. In
particular, assume that a mobile terminal according to the present
invention includes the display unit 151 and the controller 180. In
more particular, an edit region for writing a message to send to at
least one counterpart and an attach region for displaying an
attachment file attached to the message are displayed on the
display unit 151. When a multimedia file is set as the attachment
file of the message and displayed on the attach region, if the
multimedia file displayed on the attach region is touched and
dragged to the edit region, the controller 180 controls the
multimedia file to be displayed in a manner of being inserted in
the edit region. When the multimedia file is displayed by being
inserted in the edit region, if the multimedia file displayed on
the edit region is touched and dragged to the attach region, the
controller 180 sets the multimedia file as an attachment file of
the message. Moreover, the mobile terminal according to the present
invention may further include the wireless communication unit 110
for sending a message to a prescribed counterpart and the memory
160 configured to store a message.
`Message` mentioned in the description of the present invention may
include data transceived with a prescribed counterpart using at
least one of an email, a text message (e.g., SMS, LMS, MMS, etc.),
a mobile messenger, an instant message using RCS (rich
communication suite) and the like. For the facilitation of the
accompanying drawings, assume that a type of a message includes an
email.
`Multimedia file` mentioned in the description of the present
invention includes at least one of an image file, a video file, a
music file and a document file and may means a file that handles
data of various types including image, video, music, text and the
like. The multimedia file can be created and read by such a
computing device as a mobile terminal mentioned in the description
of the present invention. And, a document file may include such a
file of every format for reading an application runnable through a
mobile terminal as a phonebook file (e.g., a file of a vcard
format), a schedule file linked to a schedule application and the
like as well as a document file created through a processor.
Moreover, the document file may include a webpage having URL
address linked thereto.
`Touch drag` mentioned in the description of the present invention
may mean an action of touching a prescribed object displayed on a
touchscreen and then dragging & dropping the touched object
onto a prescribed region. For instance, if A is touched and dragged
to B, it may mean that an object A is touched and the dragged &
dropped onto a region B. Moreover, if a prescribed object is
`touched`, it may mean a user input for selecting the prescribed
object by a touch input. In this case, `touch` can be
conceptionally understood as one of a simple contact touch, a long
touch (i.e., maintaining a contact for prescribed duration), a
proximity touch and the like.
A user input for `touching` a prescribed object can be performed
using a pointer. In this case, the pointer may mean such a body
part or object, which is configured to touch a touchscreen, as a
finger, a stylus pen and the like.
If a display module or unit of a mobile terminal according to the
present invention includes a touchscreen, implementation of the
following embodiments may be further facilitated. Therefore, the
following description is made on the assumption that the display
module or unit includes the touchscreen. If the display unit does
not include the touchscreen, the mobile terminal according to the
present invention may further include a separate input device
configured to receive a user input.
In the following description, a mobile terminal according to the
present invention is explained in detail with reference to an
operational flowchart shown in FIG. 4. For clarity of the following
description, a user intending to use a mobile terminal according to
the present invention may be named `user` and a user becoming a
reception target of a message created through a mobile terminal
according to the present invention or a terminal of the user may be
named `counterpart`.
FIG. 4 is a flowchart for a method of controlling a mobile terminal
according to the present invention.
Referring to FIG. 4, in case that a user intends to send a message
to a prescribed counterpart, the controller 180 can control the
touchscreen to display a message writing screen [S401]. When the
message writing screen is displayed on the touchscreen, the
controller 180 can control the message writing screen to include an
edit region for writing a text of the message to be sent to the
prescribed counterpart and an attach region for displaying
information of an attachment file attached to the message. The edit
region and the attach region shall be described in detail with
reference to FIG. 5 as follows.
FIG. 5 is a diagram for one example to describe a message writing
screen.
Referring to FIG. 5, the controller 180 can control a message
writing screen, which includes an edit region 510 for inputting a
text of a message and an attach region 520 for displaying
information of an attachment file attached to the message, to be
displayed on the touchscreen.
The edit region 510 is provided to input a text content of a
message. And, a user can input a text content, which is to be sent
to a prescribed counterpart, to the edit region 510. In particular,
the controller 180 can display a text on the edit region 510 based
on a user input or can insert such a multimedia file as an image, a
video, a music, a document and the like in the edit region 510. In
case that a multimedia file is inserted in the edit region 510, the
controller 180 controls the multimedia file or a control panel,
which is provided to control a playback of the multimedia file, to
be displayed depending on a type of the inserted multimedia file.
If the multimedia file is displayed on the edit region 510, it may
mean that a content of the multimedia file is displayed on the edit
region 510. In this case, the content of the multimedia file can
include one of an image, a thumbnail of video, a document file
preview and the like depending on a type of the multimedia file. In
case that a multimedia file is inserted in the edit region 510, an
output of the touchscreen is described with reference to FIG. 6 as
follows.
FIG. 6 is a diagram for one example to describe an output of a
touchscreen if a multimedia file is inserted in an edit region.
FIG. 6 (a) shows one example of a case that an image file 610 is
inserted in an edit region 510. Referring to FIG. 6 (a), if the
image file 610 is inserted in the edit region 510, the controller
180 can control the inserted image file 610 to be displayed on the
edit region 510. Hence, if the image file 610 is inserted in the
edit region 510, a counterpart receives a message from the mobile
terminal and is then able to directly check a content of the image
file 610 through a text content of the message. In case that the
image file 610 is inserted in the edit region 510, a display size
of the image file 610 can be automatically adjusted depending on a
resolution or image size of the image file 610. Optionally, the
image size of the image file 610 can be manually adjusted according
to the example shown in FIG. 6 (f).
In case that the image file 610 is displayed on the edit region
510, the controller 180 can control a thumbnail of the image file
610 to be displayed on the edit region 510. If the thumbnail of the
image file 610 in the edit region 510 is touched, the controller
180 can control an original image file 610 to be displayed.
FIG. 6 (b) and FIG. 6 (c) show examples of inserting a video file
in the edit region 510. If a video file is inserted in the edit
region 510, the controller 180 may control a still cut 620 in a
specific view of the inserted video file to be displayed [FIG. 6
(b)]. Alternatively, if a video file is inserted in the edit region
510, the controller 180 may control a control panel 630, which is
provided to control a playback of an inserted video, to be
displayed [FIG. 6 (c)]. In this case, the control panel 630 may
include at least one of a play/pause button 632 and a stop button
634 to control the playback of the video file. Moreover, the
control panel 630 may further include a save button 636 for saving
the video file, which is inserted in the edit region 510, as a
file.
If the video file is inserted in the edit region 510, a counterpart
having received a message from the mobile terminal can touch a
still cut displayed on a text of the message or play the video file
using the control panel displayed on the text. Moreover, the
counterpart can save the video file inserted in the text through a
save button of the control panel in a manner of separating the
video file from the message.
FIG. 6 (d) shows one example of a case that a music file is
inserted in the edit region 510. Referring to FIG. 6 (d), if a
music file is inserted in the edit region 510, the controller 180
can control a control panel 640, which is provide to control a
playback of the inserted music file, to be displayed. If the music
file is inserted in the edit region 510, a counterpart having
received a message from the mobile terminal can play the music file
using the control panel 640 displayed on a text. Moreover, the
counterpart can save the music file inserted in the message through
a save button of the control panel 640 in a manner of separating
the music file inserted in the message from the message.
FIG. 6 (e) shows one example of a case that a document file is
inserted in the edit region 510. Referring to FIG. 6 (e), if a
document file is inserted in the edit region 510, the controller
180 can control a preview 650 of the document file to be displayed.
In particular, if the document file includes a plurality of pages,
the controller 180 images a prescribed page of the document file
and can control a preview 650 of the document file to be displayed
on the touchscreen. Furthermore, the controller 180 can control a
page turn button 660 to be further displayed, as shown in FIG. 6
(e), to enable the pages of the document file to be turned.
Although FIG. 6 (e) shows one example that a prescribed page of the
document file including a plurality of pages is outputted as the
preview 650, it is able to control a plurality of pages to be
simultaneously outputted as a preview unlike the example shown in
FIG. 6 (e).
In case that a document file is inserted in the edit region 510, a
counterpart having received a message from the mobile terminal can
check the document file through the preview 650. If the page turn
button 660 is displayed on a text, the counterpart can perform an
action of turning a page of the document file displayed as the
preview 650 using the page turn button 660.
Instead of the page turn button 660 shown in FIG. 6 (e), the
controller 180 can control a page turning action of turning a page
of the document file to be performed based on a touch input applied
to the preview 650 of the document file. For instance, if a
flicking touch with a pointer in a 1.sup.st direction is performed
on the preview 650 of the document file, the controller 180 can
control a next page to be displayed. For another instance, if a
flicking touch with a pointer in a 2.sup.nd direction is performed
on the preview 650 of the document file, the controller 180 can
control a previous page to be displayed.
A display size and location of a multimedia file or a control panel
for controlling a playback of the multimedia file, which is
displayed on the edit region 510, can be arbitrarily changed by
user settings. For instance, if a prescribed touch input is applied
to an image file displayed in a manner of being inserted in the
edit region 510, referring to FIG. 6 (f), the controller 180 can
control a handler 660, which is provided to adjust a size of the
image file, to be displayed. In particular, a user can adjust a
display location of the image file by dragging the image file or
can adjust a size of the image file displayed on the edit region
510 by dragging the handler.
Meanwhile, the attach region 520 shown in FIG. 5 is the region for
displaying information of an attachment file attached to a
message.
The controller 180 can set the multimedia file selected by the user
input as the attachment file of the message. For instance, a user
can complete the settings of the attachment file in a manner of
touching the file attach button 530 and then selecting the
multimedia file intended to be set as the attachment file by the
user.
If the attachment file is selected by the user input, the
controller 180 can control the information of the attachment file
set as the attachment file to be displayed on the attach region
520. In this case, the information of the attachment file may
include at least one of a file name of the attachment file, an icon
corresponding to a type of the attachment file, a preview of the
attached multimedia file, and a size of the attached multimedia
file. A process for displaying the information of the attachment
file on the attach region 520 is described in detail with reference
to FIG. 7 as follows.
FIG. 7 is a diagram for one example to describe a process for
displaying an information of an attachment file on an attachment
region.
For instance, referring to FIG. 7 (a), the controller 180 can
control file names 702 and 704 of attachment files to be displayed
on an attach region 520. A user is then able to identify files
attached to a message using the file names 702 and 704 of the
attachment files.
For another instance, referring to FIG. 7 (b), the controller 180
can control an icon corresponding to a type of an attached
multimedia file to be displayed on the attach region 520. For
example, if multimedia files set as the attachment files include an
image file and a music file, as shown in FIG. 7 (b), the controller
can control an image icon 712 and a music icon 714, which indicate
that the attached files are the image file and the music file,
respectively, to be displayed on the attach region 520. For another
example (not shown in the drawing), if the attached multimedia file
includes a video file, a video icon may be displayed on the attach
region 520. For another example (not shown in the drawing), if the
attached multimedia file includes a document file, a document icon
may be displayed on the attach region 520.
If the attachment files set as the attachment files include image
files and/or video files, referring to FIG. 7 (c), the controller
180 can control thumbnails 722, 724, 726 and 728 of the attached
image and/or video files to be displayed on the attach region 520.
If the attachment file includes a file that is neither an image
file nor a video file, as shown in FIG. 7 (b), the controller 180
may control an icon corresponding to a type of the attachment file
to be displayed.
The controller 180 can adjust information of a multimedia file
displayed on the attach region 520 depending on a display size of
the attach region 520. For instance, referring to FIG. 7 (d), while
icons 732, 734, 736 and 738 corresponding to types of attached
multimedia files are displayed, if a size of the attach region 520
is increased by a user input, the controller 180 can control
thumbnails 742, 744, 746 and 748 to be displayed on the attach
region 520. In the state shown in FIG. 7 (d), if the size of the
attach region 520 is further increased, the controller 180 can
control a size of each of the thumbnails displayed on the attach
region 520 to further increase.
Moreover, the controller 180 can control a combination of at least
two of a file name of an attachment file, an icon corresponding to
a type of the attachment file and a preview of the attachment file
to be displayed on the attach region 520. For instance, referring
to FIG. 7 (e), the controller 180 can control a file name 752 of an
attached multimedia file and a corresponding icon 754 to be
simultaneously displayed on the attach region 520.
For another instance, when a multimedia file set as an attachment
file includes an image/video file, if the image/video file
displayed on the attach region 520 is selected by a touch input,
the controller 180 can control a thumbnail of the selected
image/video file to be displayed in response to the touch
input.
For instance, if a prescribed touch input is applied to an
information of an image file displayed on the attach region 520,
referring to FIG. 7 (f), the controller 180 can control a popup
window 760, which is provided to display a thumbnail of a selected
image file, to be displayed. If the prescribed touch input includes
a long touch, the controller 180 can control the popup window 760,
on which the thumbnail of the selected image file is displayed, to
be displayed only if a pointer maintains its contact. For another
instance, the controller 180 discriminates a simple contact touch
and a proximity touch from each other. Subsequently, if the simple
contact touch is performed on the information of the image file,
the controller 180 activates the selected image file. If the
proximity touch is performed on the information of the image file,
the controller 180 can control the popup window 760, on which the
thumbnail of the selected image file is displayed, to be
displayed.
In the above-described examples, a multimedia file is set as an
attachment file. Yet, it is not mandatory for a multimedia file to
be set as an attachment file. For instance, files in other formats
failing to be determined as multimedia files may be set as
attachment files of a message [not shown in the drawing].
In case that a multimedia file is inserted in the edit region 510,
as mentioned in the foregoing description of the example shown in
FIG. 6, the multimedia file inserted in a text of a message or a
control panel for playing the inserted multimedia file can be
displayed. In this case, a counterpart having received a message
from the mobile terminal according to the present invention can
simultaneously perform both one action of checking the message text
and another action of checking the inserted multimedia file.
On the contrary, if a multimedia file is set as an attachment file
and then displayed on the attach region 520, a counterpart having
received a message saves the attachment file and is then able to
check the multimedia file by activating the saved attachment file.
Yet, in case that the attachment file is an image file or a video
file, a message text content and a preview of the attachment file
may be exceptionally displayed at the same time.
In FIG. 5, the region for displaying the information of the
attachment file is defined as the attach region 520. Yet, according
to another embodiment of the present invention, the display region
of the file attach button for setting attachment files can be
understood as included in the attach region 520 in the example
shown in FIG. 5.
Referring now to FIG. 4, the controller 180 inserts a multimedia
file in the edit region [S402] or sets the multimedia file as an
attachment file [S403], based on the user input.
If the multimedia file is inserted in the edit region, as mentioned
in the foregoing description of the example shown in FIG. 6, the
controller 180 can control the multimedia file or a control panel,
which is provided to control a playback of the multimedia file, to
be displayed on the edit region. On the other hand, if the
multimedia file is set as the attachment file, as mentioned in the
foregoing description of the example shown in FIG. 7, the
controller 180 can control information of the attachment file to be
displayed on the attach region.
While the multimedia file is inserted in the edit region, if the
multimedia file inserted in the edit region is touch-dragged to the
attach region, the controller 180 can control the multimedia file
to be set as the attachment file [S404]. In case that the
multimedia file previously inserted in the edit region is set as
the attachment file, it may be deleted form the edit region or
remain in the edit region as it is. Yet, in order to prevent a
redundant transmission of the same data, the multimedia file set as
the attachment file may be preferably deleted from the edit
region.
In the following description, a process for setting a multimedia
file inserted in an edit region as an attachment file is explained
in detail with reference to FIG. 8.
FIG. 8 is a diagram for one example to describe a process for
setting a multimedia file inserted in an edit region as an
attachment file. For clarity of the following description, assume
that a multimedia file inserted in an edit region 810 includes an
image file.
Referring to FIG. 8, if an image file 830 is inserted in an edit
region 810, the controller 180 can control the image file 830 to be
displayed on the edit region 810 [FIG. 8 (a)]. Subsequently, if the
image file inserted in the edit region 810 is touched and then
dragged to an attach region 820 [FIG. 8 (b)], the controller 180
sets the touch-dragged image file as an attachment file and is then
able to control an information 840 of the image file set as the
attachment file to be displayed on the attach region 820 [FIG. 8
(c)].
In case that the multimedia file previously inserted in the edit
region 810 is set as the attachment file, the multimedia file
displayed on the edit region 810 may be deleted form the edit
region 810 or remain in the edit region 810 as it is. According to
one embodiment of the present invention, referring to FIG. 8 (d),
the controller 180 can control a popup window 850, which is
provided to adjust whether to maintain the image file in the edit
region 810, to be displayed before setting the image file as the
attachment file. If a `copy` region 852 is touched in the popup
window 850 shown in FIG. 8 (d), the controller 180 can control the
image file to be set as the attachment file by maintaining the
image file in the edit region 810. On the other hand, if a `move`
region 854 in the popup window 850 is touched, the controller 180
can control the image file to be set as the attachment file by
deleting the image file from the edit region 810.
Although FIG. 8 shows one example that the multimedia file includes
the image file, the description with reference to FIG. 8 can be
exactly applied to such a multimedia file as a music file, a
document file, a video file and the like. In particular, if the
music/document/video file displayed on the edit region 810 is
touched and dragged to the attach region 820, the
music/document/video file can be set as an attachment file as
well.
In the example shown in FIG. 8, if the multimedia file displayed on
the edit region 810 is touched and dragged to the attach region
820, the multimedia file is set as the attachment file. Unlike the
example shown in FIG. 8, if a file attach button within the attach
region 820 is touched and dragged to a multimedia file displayed on
the edit region 810, the controller 180 may control the multimedia
file inserted in the edit region 810 to be set as an attachment
file. This is described in detail with reference to FIG. 9 as
follows.
FIG. 9 is a diagram for another example to describe a process for
setting a multimedia file inserted in an edit region as an
attachment file. Like the former assumption made for FIG. 8, assume
that a multimedia file inserted in an edit region 910 includes an
image file.
Referring to FIG. 9, after a file attach button 930 of an attach
region 920 has been touched [FIG. 9 (a)], if the file attach button
930 is dragged to an image file 940 displayed on an edit region 910
[FIG. 9 (b)], the controller 180 sets the multimedia file inserted
in the edit region 910 to be set as an attachment file and is then
able to control an information 950 of the multimedia file set as
the attachment file to be displayed on the attach region 920 [FIG.
9 (c)].
In particular, on the contrary to the former example shown in FIG.
8, if a drag input from an attach region to an edit region is
applied, a multimedia file inserted in the edit region can be set
as an attachment file.
Like the example shown in FIG. 8, the description with reference to
FIG. 9 can be exactly applied to such a multimedia file as a music
file, a document file, a video file and the like as well as to an
image file.
In setting a multimedia file inserted in an edit region as an
attachment file, the controller 180 may set an original copy of the
multimedia file inserted in the edit region as the attachment file
as well. Moreover, like the example shown in FIG. 6 (f), if a size
of a multimedia file (particularly, an image file) is adjusted by a
user, it is able to control the size-adjusted image file to be set
as an attachment file. For instance, if an image size of an image
file in an edit region is adjusted into 1/2, an image file set as
an attachment file can be set to have a size amounting to 1/2 of an
original copy file.
According to another embodiment of the present invention, in case
that a type of a multimedia file inserted in an edit region is set
as an attachment file is a 1.sup.st file type, the controller 180
can control the type of the multimedia file to be manually or
automatically changed into a 2.sup.nd file type. This is described
in detail with reference to FIG. 10 as follows.
FIG. 10 is a diagram for one example to describe a process for
changing a 1.sup.st file type of a multimedia file into a 2.sup.nd
file type. For clarity of the following description, assume that a
multimedia file described with reference to FIG. 10 includes an
image file, that a 2.sup.nd file type includes an image having an
extension `png`, and that a 1.sup.st file type includes an image
having an extension other than that of the 2.sup.nd file type.
Referring to FIG. 10 (a), if an image file 1030 displayed on an
edit region 1010 is touched & dragged to an attach region 1020,
the controller 180 can determine whether the image file 1030
corresponds to a 1.sup.st file type or a 2.sup.nd file type. As a
result of the determination, if the image file is determined as
corresponding to the 1.sup.st file type or as not corresponding to
the 2.sup.nd file type, referring to FIG. 10 (b), the controller
180 can control a popup window 1040, which is provided to adjust an
extension of an image file to be attached, to be displayed. In the
example shown in FIG. 10 (b), if a region `Original format` is
touched, the controller 180 can set the image file of the 1.sup.st
file type as an attachment file. Otherwise, if a region `PNG file`
is touched in the example shown in FIG. 10 (b), the controller 180
changes the 1.sup.st file type of the image file into the 2.sup.nd
file type and is then able to set the image file of the 2.sup.nd
file type as an attachment file. Referring to FIG. 10 (c), an
information 1050 of the image file having its format changed into
`png` file format is displayed on the attach region 1020.
In displaying the popup window 1040 for guiding the 1.sup.st file
type of the image file to be changed into the 2.sup.nd file type,
the controller 180 can control the popup window 1040 to display a
size of the image file saved as the 1.sup.st file type and a size
of the image file saved as the 2.sup.nd file type. Through this, in
case that the 1.sup.st file type is changed into the 2.sup.nd file
type, a user is facilitated to determine how much size will be
saved. For instance, referring to FIG. 10 (b), if the image file is
saved in Original Format, a size of the image file is 500 Kbytes.
If the image file is attached by being changed into a PNG file, a
size of the image file is 26 Kbytes. Hence, a user can recognize
that about 474 Kbytes can be saved.
In the example shown in FIG. 10, an image file of a 1.sup.st file
type is manually adjusted into an image file of a 2.sup.nd file
type in response to a user's touch input. Yet, such a process can
be automatically performed by the controller 180. In doing so, if
the image file is determined as the 1.sup.st file type, the
controller 180 can automatically change the image file into the
2.sup.nd file type without displaying the popup window shown in
FIG. 10 (b).
Preferably, the 2.sup.nd file type has a compression ratio higher
than that of the 1.sup.st file type. This is to reduce a file size
of a multimedia file set as an attachment file in a manner of
changing the multimedia file of the 1.sup.st file type set as an
attachment file into the multimedia file of the 2.sup.nd file type
having a higher compression ratio. By means of reducing a size of
the attachment file, a time taken to complete a message
transmission can be decreased and a data transmission amount of the
mobile terminal can be saved.
For instance, for an image file, assume a case that a 1.sup.st file
type is set as one format of JPG, GIF, TIFF, WMF and BMP and that a
2.sup.nd file type is set as PNG format having a compression ratio
higher than that of the 1.sup.st file type. In this case, by
changing the image file of the 1.sup.st file type into the 2.sup.nd
file type, a file size of the image file set as an attachment file
can be reduced. Hence, it is able to lower a transmission amount of
a message transmission.
The above-mentioned extensions corresponding to the 1.sup.st or
2.sup.nd file type are enumerated for the clarity of the
description only, by which the present invention may be
non-limited. In some cases, the 1.sup.st file type can be set to an
extension other than the 1nd file type.
Moreover, it is not mandatory for the 2.sup.nd file type to be
always set to have a compression ratio higher than that of the
1.sup.st file type. For instance, the settings of the 1.sup.st and
2.sup.nd file types may be adjusted by a user or a manufacturer of
the mobile terminal.
Furthermore, the description with reference to FIG. 10 can be
exactly applied to such a multimedia file as a music file, a
document file, a video file and the like as well as to an image
file.
Referring now to FIG. 4, when the multimedia file is set as the
attachment file, if the information of the attachment file
displayed on the attach region is touched and dragged to the edit
region, the controller 180 can control the multimedia file to be
inserted in the edit region [S405]. In doing so, although the
multimedia file previously set as the attachment file may lose its
status of the attachment file, it may maintain the status of the
attachment file after being inserted in the edit region. Yet, in
order to prevent a redundant transmission of the same data, the
multimedia file inserted in the edit region may preferably lose its
status of the attachment file.
In the following description, a process for inserting a multimedia
file set as an attachment file in an edit region is explained in
detail with reference to FIG. 11.
FIG. 11 is a diagram for one example to describe a process for
inserting a multimedia file set as an attachment file in an edit
region. For clarity of the following description, assume that a
multimedia file set as an attachment file includes an image
file.
Referring to FIG. 11, the controller 180 can control an information
of an image file set as an attachment file to be displayed on an
attach region 1120 [FIG. 11 (a)]. In doing so, if the information
1130 of the image file displayed on the attach region 1120 is
touched and then dragged to an edit region 1110 [FIG. 11 (b)], the
controller 180 can control the image file 1140 to be displayed on
the edit region 1110 [FIG. 11 (c)].
If the information 1130 of the image file displayed on the attach
region 1120 is touched and then dragged, while the drag action is
performed, i.e., while a pointer comes in contact with the
touchscreen, the controller 180 can control a thumbnail of the
image file to be displayed along the pointer. This is to facilitate
a user to check a content of the image file attempted to be
inserted in the edit region 1110 by the user.
In case that the image file previously set as the attachment file
is inserted in the edit region 1110, the image file set as the
attachment file may maintain or lose its status of the attachment
file. According to one example of the present invention, referring
to FIG. 11 (d), before the image file is inserted in the edit
region 1110, the controller 180 can control a popup window 1150,
which is provided to determine whether an attachment file status of
the image file will be maintained, to be displayed. In the popup
window 1150 shown in FIG. 11 (d), if a `copy` region 1152 is
touched, the controller 180 can control the image file to be
inserted in the edit region 1110 while having the attachment file
status of the image file maintained. On the other hand, if a `move`
region 1154 of the popup window 1150 is touched, the controller 180
can control the image file to be inserted in the edit region 1110
while controlling the attachment file status of the image file to
be lost.
Although FIG. 11 shows one example that the multimedia file
includes the image file, the description with reference to FIG. 11
can be exactly applied to such a multimedia file as a music file, a
document file, a video file and the like as well as to an image
file. In particular, if an information of a music/document/video
file displayed on the attach region 1120 is touched and then
dragged to the attach region 1120, the controller 180 can control
the music/document/video file to be inserted in the edit region
1110.
In case that an image file set as an attachment file is inserted in
an edit region, the controller 180 can adjust a resolution or image
size of the image file automatically or on the basis of a user
input. In particular, as the resolution or image size of the image
file is equal to or greater than a preset threshold, if it is
determined that the image file needs not to be displayed in an
original size, the controller 180 can display the resolution or
image size adjusted image file on the edit region. This is
described in detail with reference to FIG. 12 as follows.
FIG. 12 is a diagram for one example to describe a process for
displaying a resolution or image-size adjusted image file on an
edit region.
Referring to FIG. 12 (a), if an information 1230 of an image file
displayed on an attach region 1220 is touched and dragged to an
edit region 1210, the controller 180 can determine a resolution or
image size of the image file which is to be inserted in an image
region. In doing so, if the resolution or the image size of the
image file is equal to or greater than a preset threshold, the
controller 180 can control a popup window 1240, which is provided
to adjust the resolution or image size of the image file, to be
displayed. For instance, FIG. 12 (b) shows one example that the
popup window 1240 for adjusting the image size of the image file is
displayed. In the popup window 1240 shown in FIG. 12 9b), if
`Original size` is touched, the controller 180 can control the
image file in an original size to be exactly displayed on the edit
region 1210 without adjusting the image size of the image file. On
the other hand, if `Fit to screen`, `Half size` or `Quarter size`
is selected, the controller 180 adjusts the image size of the image
file and is then able to control the image size adjusted image file
to be inserted in the edit region 1210. In this case, `Fit to
screen` may be provided to adjust the image size to fit for a
length of one side of the touchscreen, `Half size` may be provided
to adjust the image size into 1/2 of an original image size, and
`Quarter size` may be provided to adjust the image size into 1/4 of
the original image size. If an item to be adjusted is the
resolution, the controller 180 may control a popup window, which is
provided to adjust the resolution of the image file, to be
displayed instead of displaying the former popup window 1240 shown
in FIG. 12 (b).
In the example shown in FIG. 12, a resolution or image size of an
image file is manually adjusted in response to a user's touch
input. Moreover, the above-described process can be automatically
performed by the controller 180. In this case, if the resolution or
image size of the image file is equal to or greater than a preset
threshold, the controller 180 can automatically adjust the
resolution or image size of the image file by omitting the popup
window displaying step shown in FIG. 12 (b). For instance, if a
length of a horizontal side of the image file is greater than a
width of the touchscreen or a length of a vertical side is greater
than a height of the touchscreen, since the image file exceeds a
maximum size that can be outputted by the touchscreen, the
controller 180 can adjust the image size of the image file into a
range within the maximum size that can be outputted by the
touchscreen. This is to enable a user to check a content of the
image file without scrolling the touchscreen.
When one multimedia file set as an attachment file is intended to
be inserted in an edit region, if another multimedia file is
already inserted in the edit region, the controller 180 can combine
the multimedia file previously inserted in the edit region and the
multimedia file to be newly inserted in the edit region together.
In this case, if two multimedia files are combined together, it may
mean an operation of merging the two multimedia files into a single
file or an operation of setting the two multimedia files to a
single playlist to enable the two multimedia files to be
consecutively played.
In particular, if an information of one multimedia file displayed
on an attachment file region is dragged to a region on which
another multimedia file already inserted in an edit region is
displayed, the controller 180 can combine the multimedia file
previously inserted in the edit region and the mobile media file to
be newly inserted in the edit region together. On the other hand,
if the information of the multimedia file displayed on the
attachment file region is dragged to an outside of the region on
which the multimedia file already inserted in the edit region is
displayed, the controller 180 can control the multimedia file
previously inserted in the edit region and the multimedia file
newly inserted in the edit region to be separately or individually
displayed.
In particular, the controller 180 can determine how to combine the
multimedia files in a manner of discriminating one case of dragging
the information of one multimedia file displayed on the attachment
file region to a region on which another multimedia file already
inserted in an edit region from the other case of dragging
information of the multimedia file displayed on the attachment file
region to an outside of the region on which the multimedia file
already inserted in the edit region is displayed. This shall be
described in detail with reference to FIG. 13 and FIG. 14 as
follows. First of all, for clarity of the following description,
one multimedia file, which used to set as an attachment file and
will be inserted in an edit region, shall be named a 1.sup.st
multimedia file. Another multimedia file, which has been already
inserted in the edit region before the 1.sup.st multimedia file is
inserted in the edit region, shall be named a 2.sup.nd multimedia
file. And, assume that each of the 1.sup.st multimedia file and the
2.sup.nd multimedia file includes an image file in FIG. 13 and FIG.
14.
FIG. 13 and FIG. 14 are diagrams for examples to describe a process
for combining a 1.sup.st multimedia file and a 2.sup.nd multimedia
file together.
Referring to FIG. 13 (a) and FIG. 14 (a), if a 1.sup.st image file
is set as an attachment file and a 2.sup.nd image file is inserted
in an edit region 1310/1410, the controller 180 can control an
information 1330/1430 of the 1.sup.st image file to be displayed on
an attach region 1320/1420 and can control the 2.sup.nd image file
to be displayed on a region 1340/1440 of the edit region
1301/1410.
In doing so, referring to FIG. 13 (b), if the information 1330 of
the 1.sup.st image file displayed on the attach region 1320 is
touched and dragged to an inside of the region 1340 on which the
2.sup.nd image file is displayed, the controller 180 can control
the 1.sup.st image file and the 2.sup.nd image file to be combined
together. In particular, the controller 180 controls the 1.sup.st
image file and the 2.sup.nd image file to merge into a single image
file. Alternatively, the controller 180 sets the 1.sup.st image
file and the 2.sup.nd image file to a single playlist and is then
able to control the 1.sup.st image file and the 2.sup.nd image file
to be played as a slide show.
In case of combining the 1.sup.st image file and the 2.sup.nd image
file together, in order to indicate that the 1.sup.st image file
and the 2.sup.nd image file are combined together, referring to
FIG. 13 (c), the controller 180 can control the 1.sup.st image file
and the 2.sup.nd image file to be displayed on the edit region 1310
in a manner of overlay 1332 and 1340. If the 1.sup.st image file
and the 2.sup.nd image file are displayed in a manner of overlaying
each other, a user can recognize that the two images files are
combined together.
In case of merging the 1.sup.st image file and the 2.sup.nd image
file into a single image file, the merged image file may have a
moving image file format. On the other hand, in case of setting the
1.sup.st image file and the 2.sup.nd image file to a single
playlist, referring to FIG. 13 (d), the controller 180 can control
a play button 1350 to be displayed on the edit region 1410. If the
play button 1350 is touched, the controller 180 can control the
1.sup.st image file and the 2.sup.nd image file to be played as a
slide show.
While the 1.sup.st image file and the 2.sup.nd image file are
combined together, if an appropriate user input is received, the
controller 180 can demerge the combined 1.sup.st and 2.sup.nd image
files into two files again or release the 1.sup.st image file and
the 2.sup.nd image file from the single playlist setting.
For instance, if a rearrange button 1360 shown in FIG. 13 (e) is
touched, referring to FIG. 13 (f), the controller 180 can control
the 1.sup.st image file and the 2.sup.nd image file to be
individually displayed by being separated from each other [1332,
1340].
In the example shown in FIG. 13, each of the 1.sup.st multimedia
file and the 2.sup.nd multimedia file includes an image file.
Moreover, the process for combining two multimedia files together
can be applied to such a multimedia file as a music file, a video
file, a document file and the like. For instance, in case that each
of the 1.sup.st multimedia file and the 2.sup.nd multimedia file
includes a music file or a video file, the controller 180 can merge
the 1.sup.st multimedia file and the 2.sup.nd multimedia file into
a single file or can control the 1.sup.st multimedia file and the
2.sup.nd multimedia file to be automatically played in a manner
that the 2.sup.nd multimedia file is played after completion of a
playback of the 1.sup.st multimedia file, and vice versa. For
another instance, if each of the 1.sup.st multimedia file and the
2.sup.nd multimedia file includes a document file, the controller
180 merges a 1.sup.st document file and a 2.sup.nd document file
into a single file or can merge the 1.sup.st document file and the
2.sup.nd document file together in a manner of displaying a
1.sup.st page of the 2.sup.nd document file after displaying a last
page of the 1.sup.st document file or displaying a 1.sup.st page of
the 1.sup.st document file after displaying a last page of the
2.sup.nd document file.
Moreover, it may be unnecessary for the 1.sup.st multimedia file
and the 2.sup.nd multimedia file, which are to be combined
together, to belong to the same species. For instance, when the
1.sup.st multimedia file and the 2.sup.nd multimedia file include
an image file and a music file, respectively, the controller 180
can control the 1.sup.st multimedia file to be outputted in the
course of playing back the 2.sup.nd multimedia file in a manner of
combining the 1.sup.st multimedia file and the 2.sup.nd multimedia
file together.
Unlike the example shown in FIG. 13, if the information 1430 of the
1.sup.st image file displayed on the attach region 1420 is touched
and dragged to an outside of the region 1440 on which the 2.sup.nd
image file is displayed [FIG. 14 (b)], the controller 180 can
control the 1.sup.st image file and the 2.sup.nd image file to be
separately displayed on the edit region (1432, 1440) [FIG. 14 (c)].
Hence, the controller 180 can determine how to combine the 1.sup.st
multimedia file and the 2.sup.nd multimedia file together based on
whether the information 1430 of the 1.sup.st image file previously
displayed on the attach region is touched and dragged to the inside
or outside of the display region 1440 of the 2.sup.nd image
file.
Even if the 1.sup.st image file and the 2.sup.nd image file are
separately displayed on the edit region, the two image files can be
combined together by a user input later. For instance, if the
1.sup.st image file is dragged to the inside of the display region
1440 of the 2.sup.nd image file or the 2.sup.nd image file is
dragged to an inside of the display region 1432 of the 1.sup.st
image file [FIG. 14 (d)], the controller 180 can combine the
1.sup.st image file and the 2.sup.nd image file together [FIG. 14
(e)]. In particular, even if the 1.sup.st image file and the
2.sup.nd image file are separately displayed, the controller 180
can combine the 1.sup.st image file and the 2.sup.nd image file
together in response to a user input later. How to separate the
combined 1.sup.st and 2.sup.nd image files from each other can
refer to the former description with reference to FIG. 13 (e) and
FIG. 13 (f), and its details shall be omitted from the following
description.
Like the case shown in FIG. 13, the case shown in FIG. 14 can be
applied to such a multimedia file as a music file, a video file, a
document file and the like as well as to an image file.
In the example shown in FIG. 4, in case of dragging an information
of a multimedia file displayed on an attach region to an edit
region or dragging a multimedia file displayed on the edit region
to the attach region, the multimedia file set as an attachment file
is inserted in the edit region or a multimedia file inserted in the
edit region is set as an attachment file. Unlike the example shown
in FIG. 4, the controller 180 can insert a multimedia file set as
an attachment file in an edit region using a copy or cut function
or can set a multimedia file set in the edit region as an
attachment file. This is described in detail with reference to FIG.
15 and FIG. 16 as follows.
FIG. 15 is a diagram for one example to describe a process for
inserting a multimedia file set as an attachment file in an edit
region using a copy or cutting. For clarity of the following
description, assume that a multimedia file includes an image
file.
Referring to FIG. 15, if an image file is set as an attachment
file, the controller 180 can display an information 1530 of the
image file on an attach region 1520 [FIG. 15 (a)]. In doing so, in
order to select the image file displayed on the attach region 1520,
if an appropriate touch input is applied to the information 1530 of
the image file, the controller 180 can control a popup window 1540,
which is provided to determine whether to copy or cut the selected
image file, to be displayed [FIG. 15 (b)]. For instance, in the
popup window 1540 shown in FIG. 15 (b), a `Copy` item 1542 may be
provided to copy a selected image file and a `Cut` item 1544 may be
provided to cut a selected image file.
After the selected image file has been copied or cut in the example
shown in FIG. 15 (b), if an appropriate touch input is applied to
the edit region 1510, the controller 180 can control a popup window
1550, which is provided to paste the copied or cut image file, to
be displayed [FIG. 15 (c)]. If the copied or cut image file is
pasted, the controller 180 can control the image file 1560 to be
displayed on the edit region 1510 [FIG. 15 (d)].
If `Copy` is selected in FIG. 15 (b), the controller 180 inserts
the image file in the edit region 1510 and can also control the
image file to maintain its status of the attachment file as it is.
On the other hand, if `Cut` is selected in FIG. 15 (b), the
controller 180 inserts the image file in the edit region 1510 and
can also control the image file to be released from the status of
the attachment file.
FIG. 16 is a diagram for one example to describe a process for
setting a multimedia file inserted in an edit region using a copy
or cutting as an attachment file. For clarity of the following
description, like the case shown in FIG. 15, assume that a
multimedia file includes an image file.
Referring to FIG. 16, if an image file is inserted in an edit
region 1610, the controller 180 can control the image file 1630 to
be displayed on the edit region 1610 [FIG. 16 (a)]. In doing so, in
order to select the image file displayed on the edit region 1610,
if an appropriate touch input is applied to the image file
displayed on the edit region 1610, the controller 180 can control a
popup window 1640, which is provided to determine whether to copy
or cut the selected image file, to be displayed [FIG. 16 (b)]. For
instance, in the popup window 1640 shown in FIG. 16 (b), a `Copy`
item 1642 may be provided to copy a selected image file and a `Cut`
item 1644 may be provided to cut a selected image item. After the
selected image file has been copied or cut in the example shown in
FIG. 16 (b), if an appropriate touch input is applied to the attach
region 1620, the controller 180 can control a popup window 1650,
which is provided to paste the copied or cut image file, to be
displayed [FIG. 16 (c)]. If the copied or cut image file is pasted
on the attach region 1620, the controller 180 sets the image file
as an attachment file and can also control an information 1660 of
the image file, which is set as the attachment file, to be
displayed on the attach region 1620 [FIG. 16 (d)].
In the example shown in FIG. 16 (b), if `Copy` is selected, the
controller 180 sets the image file as an attachment file and can
also control the image file to be displayed on the edit region 1610
as it is. On the other hand, if `Cut` is selected in FIG. 16 (b),
the controller 180 sets the image file as an attachment file and
can also delete the image file displayed on the edit region
1610.
In the above-described example, an operation of a mobile terminal
attempting to send a message to a counterpart is explained. In the
following description, an operation of a mobile terminal having
received a message from a counterpart is explained in detail.
FIG. 17 is a flowchart for an operation of a mobile terminal
according to the present invention.
Referring to FIG. 17, in case of receiving a message from a
counterpart via the wireless communication unit 110, the controller
180 can control the message received from the counterpart to be
displayed on the touchscreen [S1701]. If an attachment file exists
in the message received from the counterpart, the controller 180
can control the message received from the counterpart to be
displayed in a manner of discriminating a text region for
displaying a text content of the message received from the
counterpart from an attach region for displaying the attachment
file attached to the message received from the counterpart.
FIG. 18 is a diagram for one example to describe a process for
displaying a message received from a counterpart on a
touchscreen.
Referring to FIG. 18, the controller 180 can control a text region
1810 and an attach region 1820 to be displayed. In this case, the
text region 1810 is provided to display a text content of a message
received from a counterpart and the attach region 1820 is provided
to display an information of an attachment file attached to the
message received from the counterpart. As mentioned in the
description of the example shown in FIG. 6, if a message having a
multimedia file inserted in an edit region is received, the
multimedia file may be displayed on the text region 1810.
Thereafter, referring now to FIG. 17, while the message received
from the counterpart is displayed through the touchscreen, if the
information of the attachment file, which is displayed on the
attach region, is touched and dragged to the text region [S1702],
the controller 180 can control a queue object for activating the
attachment file to be displayed on the text region [S1703].
Subsequently, if the queue object displayed on the text region is
touched [S1704], the controller 180 can control a popup window for
activating the attachment file to be displayed [S1705].
In the following description, a process for displaying a queue
object to activate an attachment file on a touchscreen is explained
with reference to FIG. 19.
FIG. 19 is a diagram for one example to describe a process for
displaying a queue object to activate an attachment file on a
touchscreen. For clarity of the following description, assume that
an image file is set as an attachment file.
Referring to FIG. 19, if an image file is attached to a message
received from a counterpart, the controller 180 can control an
information of the image file to be displayed on an attach region
1920 [FIG. 19 (a)]. In doing so, if an information 1930 of the
image file, which is displayed on the attach region 1920, is
touched and then dragged to a text region 1910 [FIG. 19 (b)], the
controller 180 can control a queue object 1940, which is provided
to guide an activation of the image file, to be displayed at a
pointer released point [FIG. 19 (c)]. In particular, in displaying
the queue object 1940, the controller 180 can control an icon,
which corresponds to a type of the attachment file, to be included
in the queue object 1940. Since the image file is set as the
attachment file in FIG. 19 (c), the controller 180 may control the
icon corresponding to the image file to be included in the queue
object 1940.
Thereafter, referring to FIG. 19 (d), if a user touches the queue
object 1940, the controller 180 can control a popup window 1950,
which is provided to display an image set as the attachment file,
to be displayed. Like the example shown in FIG. 19 (d), an
activation result of the attachment file is displayed on the popup
window 1950, whereby a content of the attachment file can be
checked without switching a screen. In the example shown in FIG. 19
(d), the user can check the content of the attachment file while
checking the text content of the message.
Moreover, when the activation result of the attachment file is
displayed on the popup window 1950, in order to minimize a portion
of the popup window 1950 that covers the touchscreen, the
controller 180 may control the popup window 1950 to be displayed
semi-transparently [not shown in the drawing].
In case that a screen switching of the touchscreen occurs, the
controller 180 of the present invention can control the queue
object to keep being displayed on the touchscreen. For instance,
referring to FIG. 19 (c), after the message received from the
counterpart has been checked, even if a different application is
activated, the controller 180 can control the queue object 1940 to
keep being displayed. This is to control the attachment file, which
is attached to the message received from the counterpart, to be
activated while the different application is active.
In the example shown in FIG. 17, if the queue object displayed in
response to an action of touching and dragging the attachment file
to the text region is touched, the attachment file can be
activated. On the other hand, a mobile terminal according to
another embodiment of the present invention can control a popup
window, which is provided to activate an attachment file directly
without displaying a queue object, to be displayed if the
attachment file is touched and dragged to a text region.
Accordingly, embodiments of the present invention provide various
effects and/or features.
First of all, the present invention provides a mobile terminal, by
which user's convenience is enhanced.
In particular, the present invention provides a mobile terminal, by
which a multimedia file set as an attachment file can be inserted
in a text region of a message in a simple manner. And, the present
invention provides a mobile terminal, by which a multimedia file
inserted in a text region of a message can be set as an attachment
file in a simple manner.
It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the present
invention can be specified into other form(s) without departing
from the spirit or scope of the inventions.
In addition, the above-described methods can be implemented in a
program recorded medium as processor-readable codes. The
processor-readable media may include all kinds of recording devices
in which data readable by a computer system are stored. The
processor-readable media may include ROM, RAM, CD-ROM, magnetic
tapes, floppy discs, optical data storage devices, and the like for
example and also include carrier-wave type implementations (e.g.,
transmission via Internet).
It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that various
modifications and variations can be made in the present invention
without departing from the spirit or scope of the inventions. Thus,
it is intended that the present invention covers the modifications
and variations of this invention provided they come within the
scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.
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